Art and poetic words join forces to celebrate joy and love in this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing.

Both poetry and art have the power to put people in touch with their emotions. Pairing the two creates a powerful message, as evidenced in a new book released by Dog Ear Publishing. Author Al Tenhundfeld links his poetry with beautiful – and sometimes profound – paintings by others to evoke an emotional response.

The idea for “Painted Poems” arose when Tenhundfeld brought out a large collection of poems he’d written and showed them to a group of friends who get together each month. The group of nine, coincidentally, included six artists. The rest, as they say, is history, as paintings were matched to poems that awaken thoughts and dreams of love, life and friendship.

The poems include some that draw on real experiences while others find their inspiration in emotion and specific situations. The poem “Jenny” highlights the courage of a girl who uses a skateboard to make it across the room for the very first time on her own. The memory of that day touches the author to this day, even though it was more than 30 years ago. “Paula and Ferd” explores the love that can arise if two people can overcome their self-esteem issues and take a chance on love. “Just a Bowl of Grits” shows how a simple comfort food can become a metaphor for a lifelong partner.

Tenhundfeld writes that he hopes his book will take readers “on a joyful ride into a world of sweet memories and universal emotions perhaps once forgotten but now joyfully re-awakened.”

Author Al Tenhundfeld has worked in the corporate world and served as a volunteer on boards for nonprofit organizations, including as executive director of Ronald McDonald House in Mobile, Ala. Although he has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA, he considers his life experiences preparation for the passion he has to help others. He and his wife, Linda, live in Coden, Ala.

Painted Poems

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